GENERAL AUDIENCE: THE GIFT OF INDULGENCE

VATICAN CITY, SEP 29, 1999 (VIS) - "The gift of indulgence" was the theme of John Paul II's catechesis during the general audience held this morning in St. Peter's Square.

The Holy Father indicated that the theme of indulgences "is a sensitive issue on which there has been no lack of historical misunderstanding. ... In the present ecumenical context, the Church feels the need for this ancient practice, seen as a significant expression of God's mercy, to be well understood and received."

The reconciliation of the sinner with God, which is itself a gift, implies a compromise by man on a personal level and by the Church "in its sacramental commitment. ... In fact, man must be progressively 'cured' of the negative consequences that sin has produced in him. ... In the hope of a full cure, the sinner is called to start down the path of purification towards the fullness of love."

The Holy Father went on: "Temporal punishment itself has the function of 'medicine', to the degree to which man lets himself be called to profound conversion by it."

John Paul II affirmed that indulgence is "'the remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church'."

"There is therefore a 'treasure of the Church' which is 'dispensed' by means of indulgences. This 'distribution'... is, above all, an expression of the absolute faith the Church has that she will be heard by the Father when ... asking Him to diminish or cancel the painful aspect of punishment, developing the medicinal significance (of punishment) through other paths of grace."

The Pope concluded by highlighting that, above all, indulgences "are an aid towards a more generous and radical commitment. ... Consequently, it would be erroneous to imagine that this gift can be obtained simply by adopting a certain form of external behavior. Rather, (such behavior) is required as an expression and support on the path of conversion."

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JUBILEE INITIATIVES PRESENTED IN PRESS OFFICE

VATICAN CITY, SEP 29, 1999 (VIS) - At 12:30 this afternoon in the Holy See Press Office, there was a presentation of the latest initiatives for the Jubilee Year 2000, including the October inter-religious assembly in Rome, the newest publications from the Jubilee's central committee and the Vatican Radio programs which will be dedicated to the forthcoming Holy Year.

Participants included Cardinal Francis Arinze and Bishop Michael Louis Fitzgerald, president and secretary of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, Cardinal Roger Etchegaray and Archbishop Crescenzio Sepe, president and secretary of the central Jubilee committee, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., program director at Vatican Radio, and Sean Lovett, who heads "Jubilaeum," Vatican Radio's special new Holy Year program for Romans and for pilgrims in Rome.

Cardinal Arinze pointed out that, while for Christians the Jubilee Year 2000 "is a celebration of 2000 years of the Christian era, of the birth of Jesus Christ, many other believers are interested." He highlighted Pope John Paul's affirmation in "Tertio Millennio Adveniente" that "the eve of the Year 2000 will provide a great opportunity, especially in view of the events of recent decades, for inter-religious dialogue. ... In this dialogue the Jews and Muslims ought to have a pre-eminent
place."

In line with the Holy Father's invitation, he said, and "in line with Catholic faith and practice, especially in our times," the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue has organized an inter-religious assembly to be held in Rome from October 25 to 28.

The cardinal explained that the assembly is divided into three parts: a two-day meeting for dialogue and reflection, a "fraternal journey to Assisi" and the final day of prayer, fasting and a ceremony in St. Peter's Square in the presence of Pope John Paul II. There are 235 participants scheduled to attend, representing 48 countries and 20 religious traditions.

Fr. Lombardi then explained that Vatican Radio, from the start of Advent on November 28, 1999, to the closing of the Holy Door at St. Peter's on January 6, 2001, has created two new radio stations which will present daily programs in five languages for the city of Rome and for the pilgrims who come here for the Jubilee Year 2000.
"We like to call this initiative 'the Jubilee live'," said the radio's program director. Urging pilgrims to carry small portable radios with them, he said that the first station, which will broadcast news, pilgrim information, interviews and live programs, such as papal Masses, in Italian, English and French, will be available at FM 105 MHz or MW 527 kHz. The second station, for Spanish and Portuguese, with occasional German programs, will be broadcast on FM 96.3 MHz or on MW 1260 kHz. The first program each day on both stations will start at 6 a.m.: the last one starts at 10:10 p.m.

Fr. Lombardi said that the programs, entitled "Jubilaeum: Holy Year with Vatican Radio," will offer information on how and where pilgrims may participate in Jubilee ceremonies, how and where one can see the Holy Father, announcements from Jubilee organizers, guides to exhibits and cultural events of interest, suggestions on how to avoid crowds, and information on Jubilee events in Jerusalem.

Archbishop Crescenzio Sepe presented two books prepared by the Central Committee for the Great Jubilee: "Blessed be the Lord Throughout the Centuries: Celebrations and Prayers for the Holy Year" and "The Pilgrim's Vademecum."

Referring to the first of these books, the archbishop said it is addressed, above all, to episcopal conferences and national and diocesan committees who "must productively involve the faithful in the jubilee event."

The texts contained in the volume are liturgical, meditative and formative in nature. "In addition to the Pope's Prayer and the Jubilee Hymn, the text of the 'Holy Year Mass' is also included." Furthermore, Archbishop Sepe added, "for all Sundays, solemnities and feasts of the Holy Year, closing prayers are suggested for the Prayer of the Faithful."

The secretary of the Central Committee for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 affirmed that, "along with celebrations of the Word of God in Advent and Lent and various other Jubilee feasts, suggestions are made inviting Christian communities to pass the night in prayer during the passage from the year 2000 to 2001."

For its part, the "Vademecum" contains "the information necessary in order that groups and individual pilgrims may know and make use of ... the various prayer initiatives and meetings offered them by the Church of Rome in the course of the Jubilee period."

Archbishop Sepe indicated that this book "presents the significance of the holy places, and timetables for the various liturgical celebrations and sacred rites in the patriarchal basilicas and other Roman churches. ... Activities with and for young people occupy a special place."

He concluded by saying that the "Vademecum" offers two types of pilgrimage; one aimed at the individual faithful or group who pass only one day in Rome, and another for those who pass more than one day.

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JOHN PAUL II SPEAKS OF "TRAGIC NEWS" FROM EAST TIMOR

VATICAN CITY, SEP 29, 1999 (VIS) - At the conclusion of today's general audience in St. Peter's Square, the Holy Father observed that "in these days, the tragic news of massacres against defenseless citizens, against Christians, priests and religious who have spent their lives in the service of others, continues to arrive from East Timor."

"In particular," he added, "I learned with profound sadness that on Saturday afternoon near Baucau numerous people were assassinated, including two Canossian missionaries."

He asked for prayers for "all the victims of the Timor tragedy," and stated: "Let us ask the Lord that the example of these witnesses of charity, right up to the final giving of themselves, might contribute to the birth of a future of hope in East Timor."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, SEP 29, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the territorial prelature of Cameta, Brazil, presented by Bishop Jose Elias Chaves Junior C.M., in conformity with canon 401, para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.

- Appointed Fr. Georges Fonghoro, diocesan administrator of Mopti (area 896,384, population 2,922,964, Catholics 17,000, priests 19, religious 31), Mali, as bishop of the same diocese. The bishop-elect was born in Yele, Mali, in 1958 and ordained a priest in 1987.

- Appointed Msgr. Aurel Perca, vicar general of Iasi (area 46,070, population 5,063,504, Catholics 261,504, priests 247, religious 700), Romania, as auxiliary of the same diocese. The bishop-elect was born in Sabaoni, Romania, in 1951 and ordained a priest in 1979.

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AUDIENCE

VATICAN CITY, SEP 29, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience Archbishop Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, apostolic nuncio in Italy.

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MEETINGS OF EPISCOPAL COMMISSIONS FOR FAMILIES AND LIFE

VATICAN CITY, SEP 29, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today was a communique regarding the meeting of the presidents of the Episcopal Commissions of Europe for Families and Life, promoted by the Pontifical Council for the Family and held from September 27 to 29.

During the course of the meeting, Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, made a presentation on the subject: "Family policy and principal challenges." Bishop Francisco Gil Hellin, Secretary of the council, reported on the dicastery's activities that are aimed at promoting life and the family. Finally, Cardinal Tettamanzi, archbishop of Genoa, Italy, presented his anthropological and ethical views on "de facto" unions.

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